Archive for the ‘Holidays’ category

Everyone knows the major holidays of June…Father’s Day, Summer Solstice, and Flag Day. But not everyone knows about the hidden gems that June has to offer. Here are some of June’s most underrated national holidays.

June 2nd – National Go Barefoot Day

Whether you’re at work, school, or home, find a way to be free from shoes. Run barefoot through the grass; pamper your feet by getting a message, or kick off your shoes under your desk at work when your boss isn’t looking.

Although you shouldn’t wait one day out of the year to appreciate your mom, this is the day you can go above and beyond to show her how great she really is. Sometimes all moms want is a chance to relax and enjoy what really matters: being with family. Here are some simple, but not simplistic, ideas to help say thanks.

Give her a break

Moms are often in charge of keeping everything in check. Clean house, happy kids, folded laundry, and keeping track of where you put your keys. This time let her be the one who gets to relax for the day. Whether that’s lending a hand with the chores, playing taxi for your siblings, or simply just making sure your mom can stay in bed past 7 a.m., it’s the little things that will matter the most. Get in the habit of making these regular duties instead of just a holiday occasion.

It’s that time of year again, your chance to show your significant other how much they mean to you. But Valentine’s Day can be one of the hardest holiday’s to shop for. You don’t want to go too overboard, but you also want something meaningful at the same time. Here’s some do’s and don’ts of Valentines Day’s gift shopping:

5 Don’ts

1) Nothing

No surprise here, if you forget to give your significant other anything at all, you’re in for a rough holiday. Don’t fall for the “you don’t have to get me anything” line either. Deep down, even if it’s a card with a meaningful note, they want something to show you care.

It’s hard to believe that a new year is almost upon us, it feel like just yesterday 2014 was just getting started and the holiday season seemed to be in a very distance future. Well, believe it or not, 2015 is just around the corner and with all the major holidays in the weeks ahead, this month is sure to go by faster than ever. This month we want to get you thinking about your New Year’s resolution and more importantly how to stick with it for the whole year, or until you accomplish your goal. So below we’ve come up with our top tips on how to not only craft the best New Year’s resolution possible, but stick with it to the end.

With fall winding down and Thanksgiving just around the corner, we thought this would be the perfect time to share our favorite tips for Black Friday shopping. This door busting, wee-hours of the morning sales event starts just hours after the turkey has been carved and mid afternoon naps have been taken, and has certainly become a family tradition for many across the country looking to start off their holiday shopping with savings. Below we’ll show you how to make the most of the sales this year, where to look, when to go, and more to save you some extra money or nab that illustrious flat screen.

Do Your Research

Successful Black Friday shopping starts with doing your homework on what deals will be available where and for how much. Two great sites to keep in your bookmarks folder around this time of year are BlackFriday.com and DealNews.com (apps also available). Combine these two sites with your own Black Friday mailers and you’ve got a good head-start on where the best deals will be.

We all know October as the month of Halloween, when kids and adults alike get to dress up as their favorite monsters and myths and pig out on candy. But, most people don’t know that October is also home to Make A Difference Day, an annual community service event held each year on the fourth Saturday of the month. While it’s great to dress up, watch your favorite scary movie and eat Reese’s like there’s no tomorrow, it’s important to remember that there are many that are less fortunate than you and heading into the colder parts of the year they could definitely use a helping hand. Make A Difference Day is your chance to help!

September is a time of year where the days get chillier and the trees change color, football games are back in full swing and winter is right around the corner, it’s a time where most people have a lot of activities on their plate: family gatherings, a busy work schedule, taking the kids to a litany of extra-curricular activities and it’s often easy to forget about yourself and get stuck in a rut. That’s why in honor of Self-Improvement month, we at GiftZip have compiled our top 5 sites to help kick start your self-improvement month.

Children groan when they begin to see back to school commercials pop up on their cartoon shows in early August, but like it or not back to school season is coming fast. When the time comes to shop for the kids, whether it’s now or the day before school starts, it can be tempting to make one trip and get everything imaginable on your list. But don’t be fooled by stores’ flashy displays and promised savings, back to school shopping can be dangerously expensive. So in order to save you cash and sanity during the shopping season, here’s 5 tips to save you money during back to school shopping.

People all over the country are gearing up to celebrate that most patriotic of holidays, the Fourth of July. This glorious red-white-and-blue event usually means bonfires, barbecues, and trips to the nearest body of water. But, as is the case with many of our other patriotic holidays, we party-loving Americans tend to forget the real “reason for the season.” Why does Independence Day really exist? Let’s have a brief lesson on American history!

Independence Day in the United States, at its simplest, is a celebration of our nation’s independence from the United Kingdom. This major feat was accomplished in 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was officially adopted. Technically, the legal separation of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain occurred on July 2nd that year, but the date that is celebrated (July 4) is the one that is shown on the Declaration of Independence. John Adams had predicted at one time that July 2 would be a day of great celebration for the United States, but he was off by a few days.

Father’s Day is quickly approaching, so it’s time to start thinking about what you’re going to buy for the best guy in your life. Until now, Father’s Day has been the day where kids everywhere say, “I love you enough to get you a gift, but I didn’t have time to think of a more original present.” Just like Mother’s Day, this warm-weather holiday is in need of a gift-giving makeover. Instead of turning to the tried-and-true gift solutions like barbecues and neckties, let’s try to think outside the box this year! Check out these fresh present ideas, so you can show Dad how much you care by getting him something great.